How often would a Canadian be at a beach the day before Christmas? Well, that’s exactly where we spent part of our day last year. The day was bright and beautiful while the temperatures were comfortable for a day wandering around and being in nature.
On our way to the Pinery Provincial Park we decided to take a short detour to Ipperwash Beach. There was only one other person on the beach and they were also walking their dog and enjoying the gorgeous weather.
Ipperwash is a great beach that is fairly close to our hometown and to Sarnia. I spent many summer days swimming at this beach with my family and friends through the years. It is also pet-friendly, which isn’t common along the shores of Lake Huron.
To get to the beach from one of the several access points you will walk along either a path or down steps. You will pass dune grasses that are common to this area and are very important to prevent erosion. Visitors are asked to stay along the trails to protect the area and habitat.
There are basic washrooms at each parking lot and lots of parking.
The beach goes along for many kilometres and is owned by cottage owners and the Ministry of Natural Resources. During the summer the area is very popular but less busy than the Grand Bend beach. There are no lifeguards present even during the summer months.
Maya thoroughly enjoyed the hour or so we spent at Ipperwash. She pranced around the beach and looked for shells and dead fish to eat. She didn’t try to go swimming, which she definitely would have tried to do several years ago. Getting old makes you wiser, I guess.
The water is clear and the bottom is sandy. During the summer the water is a very pleasant temperature because it is so shallow. After a big storm the temperatures can drop significantly as the winds bring up the cold water from the bottom of the lake. We have seen the temperature of the water go from being almost too warm to definitely too cold in a matter of a week in the middle of the summer. 
There are a lot of interesting things to photograph along the beach, depending on what your interests are.
Don’t think of natural places only during the warm seasons, anytime of the year is the right time to get outside and explore. Beaches are no different. Check out areas near year once a season to see how they change throughout the year.
